Unrepentant killer gets life; victim's family gets closure

STOCKTON - David Jones felt numb within as his sister's murderer stared him down in Department 23 of San Joaquin County Superior Court.

Jennie Rodriguez-Moore

STOCKTON - David Jones felt numb within as his sister's murderer stared him down in Department 23 of San Joaquin County Superior Court.

With that piercing look, Devon Omar Epps taunted the victim's family, a sheriff deputy standing by between the convicted killer and the family in the audience.

Even so, Jones and his relatives refused to show Epps the pain he has caused them.

"I didn't want to give him any satisfaction to see me crying," Jones, 39, said.

Devon Omar Epps raped, tortured and killed his 35-year-old girlfriend, Veronica Jones, then lived with her corpse for several months in their apartment before the gruesome discovery of her remains led to his arrest.

Veronica Jones had been reported missing by relatives the summer of 2011. Her body was found by maintenance workers in December 2011 on the bathroom floor. Epps was being evicted.

Superior Court Judge Bernard Garber on Monday sentenced Epps, 38, to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The crimes qualified him for the death penalty, but prosecutors considered his history of mental illness in deciding to instead pursue life in prison. Epps was diagnosed with schizophrenia as a teenager.

But for Epps' bizarre behavior and unpredictable rants, the sentencing was swift and to the point.

Veronica Jones' family made the decision to not provide victim statements during the hearing - to not describe Veronica Jones, the effect her death has on them or their feelings toward Epps.

They are ready to move on after learning the details revealed in trial. Autopsy reports indicate Veronica Jones was beaten, stabbed and endured impalement with a sharp, broken mop stick.

Epps has been convicted of first-degree murder and special circumstances of rape by a foreign object and torture.

"I don't think I would be able to say something up there (inside the courtroom) because what he did was really horrific," said Jones' aunt Cynthia Rodriguez-Egbaiyelo, 52.

Shackled and dressed in red jailhouse garb reserved for inmates classified as at-risk, Epps was escorted by deputies from the courtroom through the public halls after the minutes-long sentencing. All the while, he continued his outpouring of offensive language.

"This is his last show," David Jones said.

"To me, he is basically an animal," Rodriguez-Egbaiyelo said.

Contact Jennie Rodriguez-Moore at (209) 943-8564 or jrodriguez@recordnet.com. Visit his blog at recordnet.com/courtsblog.